Rs 38.34 cr help for flood-hit

DESPITE MAKING tall claims about prompt help provided to people affected by excessive rains, Revenue Minister Kamal Patel did admit in the State Assembly today that only an amount of Rs 38.34 crore has been disbursed among them as against estimated damage of Rs 749 crore.

DESPITE MAKING tall claims about prompt help provided to people affected by excessive rains, Revenue Minister Kamal Patel did admit in the State Assembly today that only an amount of Rs 38.34 crore has been disbursed among them as against estimated damage of Rs 749 crore.

The State Government had sought an assistance of Rs 749 crore from the Centre against damage caused by devastating rains in large parts of the State. Not a single penny has been received from the Centre for this purpose, he added.

The Congress members, who boycotted the minister’s reply to protest against alleged failure of the State Government to alleviate sufferings of people affected by floods and drought, had said that the Centre released an amount of Rs 196 crore from natural Calamity Fund in two installments after July but the State Government failed to utilise even that.

He further admitted prevalence of drought-like situation in pockets of Chambal, Vindhya and Bundelkhand region and said as reports are being received from the Collectors of respective districts, they are being declared drought-hit and further action taken. So far, Panna has been declared as draught-affected, he said, and announced to declare two other districts Chhatarpur and Tikamgarh as drought-hit.

The lengthy debate on floods and drought in the State undertaken under section 139 mainly focused on drought situation in Bundelkhand, Vindhya and Chambal regions. Members from Bundelkhand region were particularly vocal in voicing their anguish over prevalent situation in the region.

They said that there has been drought in the entire region for four successive years and scanty rains this year has created a famine-like situation in the region. Members from Chambal and Vindhya region also said that drought-like situation was already developing in their region and people had started migrating.